10 Ways to Make Your Congregation Aware of Awana
The pastor often talks about Awana from the pulpit, announcements about Awana are added to the worship service, signs about Awana are hung throughout the church – still some of the congregation have no clue what is going on.
I remember asking a church lady (who at one time had been very involved in children’s ministry) if she would do a Large Group Lesson. She readily agreed and assured me she knew what she was doing and didn’t need any other information.
Except when she got there with her 12 lesson handouts for the T&T girls, she was shocked to find 60 girls.
“I had no idea,” she told me. Unfortunately, that’s true in many churches. The people know their church has Awana, but couldn’t tell you much more than that. How do we make the people aware?
Some practical ideas …
1. At the beginning of the Awana year, have a dedication Sunday. Leaders wear their shirts and come up on the platform (as you do when sending off a missions team). The pastor prays for the year, asking for wisdom, courage, enthusiasm and grace for the leaders and open, receptive hearts on the part of the kids.
2. Organize prayer partners. Team up a member of the congregation with a leader. The prayer partner regularly prays for the leader and maybe sends him/her an encouraging note or two.
3. Ask Awana kids to wear their shirts to church one Sunday and have them usher or pass out worship folders.
4. Plan for the clubbers sing the Cubbie/Sparks or Ultimate Adventure song during a service.
5. Make a short DVD of an Awana club night and show it in church during the announcements.
6. Ask your Awana missionary to speak.
7. Ask Citation earners to give their testimony at church or other clubbers to share what Awana means to them. Or, have an adult or college student talk about what Awana meant in his/her life.
8. Have a poster contest. Kids illustrate “What Awana Means to Me” either through drawings, photos or words. Hang the posters in the church hallways.
9. Have “Invite Our Church” night at club. Kids invite the church leadership to club. Give them opportunity to watch Game Time, Handbook Time, etc. (Perhaps some visitors would be brave enough to take a turn at the game or quote a verse or two.)
10. Put up an Awana “booth” in the lobby of the church for a week or two. Invite the congregation to stop by the booth and take a quiz to see how much they know about Awana. Award small prizes for those who get the most correct. Ask some questions about your church’s Awana programs, others about the bigger picture of the global ministry. (For ideas for questions, look at the Awana website awana.org).
